Readily portable shampoo device



y 1955 N. v. COFFMAN ETAL 3,192,537

READILY PORTABLE SHAMPOO DEVICE Filed July 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joe L. Wilson MW ATTORNEY INVENTORSV Nell/e 1 Coffman 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N. V. COFFMAN ETAL READILY PORTABLE SHAMPOO DEVICE Filed July 2, 1963 July 6, 1965 INVENTORS Ale/fie l Goffman ATTORNEY Joe L. Wi/son United States Patent 3,192,537 READILY PORTABLE SHAMPOO DEVICE Neliie V. Ccfiman, 709 W. B St, Joplin, Mo., and Joe L. Wilson, 508 3rd Ave. NE, Miami, Okla. Filed July 2, 1963, Ser. No. 292,221 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-159) This invention relates to a readily portable shampoo device particularly intended for use with chair and bed patients, so that a chair or bed patient can be given a shampoo or other beauty treatment while in a chair or a wheel chair, or while in bed, for both cleanliness and therapeutic reasons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable shampoo device and a beauty bar particularly usable in hospitals, rest homes and similar institutions so that patients and occupants thereof may be given shampoos and other beauty treatment without the necessity of removing the patient from the wheel chair or bed she may be occupying.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide readily transportable cabinet having hot and cold water and beauty supply storing and using space, and a shampoo bowl having neck receiving and head supporting means therein for a chair patient, and in addition, an attachable shampoo bowl cooperating with the cabinet bowl for use with a bed patient, the attachable bowl having cooperating mounting means permitting the attached bowl to rest on the bed in water-retaining position and to be lifted, while still attached, to water discharging position through the cabinet-supported shampoo bowl.

A further object of this invention is to provide shampoo device and beauty bar that is an improvement on applicants prior Patent No. 3,013,280 of December 19, 1961.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a shampoo device having a cabinet having .a shampoo bowl extending partly from one side thereof for convenient use with a chair patient and also cooperating with an attachable bed patient shampoo bowl.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a portable shampoo device and beauty bar having hot and cold running water and also having coin-controlled mechanism'for permitting the use of the water for limited periods on payment of the cost.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a shampoo device and beauty bar having hot and cold running water tanks in a cabinet and also having beauty supply storing shelves therein as well as a working table surface thereon facilitating its use.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG.1 is a perspective view of the shampoo device and beauty bar of this invention, in position for use with a chair patient.

FIG. 2 is .a sectional view taken vertically from the front to the back thereof, on line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and partly in phantom, of the upper portion of the device.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the lower portio thereof.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device, with the bed patient bowl attached in operative position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bed patient bowl attaching clamp.

FIG. 7 is a perspective separate view of the shampoo bowl of the cabinet.

There is shown at 10 the shampoo and beauty bar ice device of this invention consisting of a cabinet 12, generally parallelepiped in outline, mounted on four conventional casters or wheels 14 for supporting it for easy transportation over a building or hospital floor 16, the back 18 of the cabinet 12 being provided with a handle 2! for easy manipulation in moving the device 16 about.

Extending across the top of the cabinet 12 and supported on the opposite sides 24 of cabinet 12 is a rather narrow ridge bar 26. The horizontal leg 21 of an L-bar 22 is attached to ridge bar 26 by screws 27. Hinged to each opposite side of the ridge bar 26 by means of piano hinges 28 is a rearwardly extending cabinet cover 30 and a forwardly extending cabinet cover 32. The vertical leg 34 of L-bar 22 extends down in the cabinet 12, and supported between and by this vertical leg 34 and the upper portion of back wall 18 are a pair of water supply tanks 36, in side by side relation, each having its top 38 provided with a fill spout 40 extending siightly downwardly therein and provided with a removable sealing cap 42, through which spout 40 water 44 may be replenished into each tank. One of the tanks 36 is used as a cold Water tank, and the other tank is used for hot water; and to help maintain the heat in the water in the hot water tank, an electric immersion heater 46 is provided therein and connected by an electric conduit 48 having .a plug (not shown) for insertion in any convenient electric receptacle while the cabinet is either waiting to be used, or is in use, the plug being temporarily disconnected while the device iii is being moved on its wheels or casters 14.

Extending the full breadth and width of the cabinet 12, slightly below the rear water tanks 36, is drainage water storing tank 50, and supported on the drainage tank top 52 are a pair of electric motor operated water pumps 53, .each connected by a water feed pipe 54 from the bottom of the hot and cold water tanks 36 to hot and cold water faucets 56 and 58 and thence through a mixing valve 6%) .to a flexible spray pipe 62 and a spray head 64, the faucets and mixing valve being mounted through the rear ledge 65 of a shampoo bowl 66. This bowl 66 is supported in the cabinet 12 forward of the tanks 36, and has a rear vertical flange 68 secured at 79 to the vertical leg 34 of L-bar 32. It will be noted that the flexible spray pipe 62 is extendible and retractable through an opening in the bowl ledge 65, a collar 67 on the spray pipe 62 limiting the retraction thereof through the open ing in ledge 65.

A water drainage pipe '72 connects the bottom 74 of the bowl 66 to the tank 50 through its top 52. The bottom 74 of bowl 66 slopes upwardly, resting on the top edge of the cabinet front 76 at about its mid point, and extends forwardly and upwardly to a forward ledge '78, which is recessed at 8% at its mid area to provide a neck rest or support for a chair patient, who may sit on a chair, restthe back of her neck in the recess 8%; and have her head down into the bowl over the sloping bowl bottom 74. The bowl 66 is also provided with side ledges 82 which extend to the opposite ends of the Vertical rear flange 68, and reinforcing flanges 84 depend from each of front and side ledges 78 and 82. It will be noted that the front ledge '78 and its flange 34 are at an appropriate height above the cabinet wheels 14 so that a patient sitting in a wheel chair or average chair may have the chair back extend under the bowl front ledge 78 and front flange 84 and rest the back of her neck on the recess with her head extending over the bowl sloping bottom 74.

The forward cover 32 is of a size to extend over the bowl front led e 78, and feet 86 extend from the bottom of the forward cover 32 to rest on and support the cover 32 on the bowl side ledges 82, as shown in FIG. 2. The tops of the forward and rearward covers 3% and 32 when closed, together with the top of the intervening ridge bar 26, thus provide a table surface for the operator to place her beauty supplies when in use. When not in use, brushes, combs, clips, linens, towels, etc., may be kept within the cabinet 12 on the shelves 88, 9t and 92 beneath the drainage tank 50 andaccessible through a cabinet door 94 in one cabinet side 24. A soiled linen bin 96 is hinged at its bottom 93 through the opposite cabinet side. To the rear of the shelves 88, 9t) and 92, a cset100 is provided, accessible through cabinet doors 102 and 104 in the opposite cabinet sides 24. In the back wall 18, there is provided a closet door 106 to a small closet in which is stored a flexible drain hose 108 connected through closure valve 110 at 112 to the bottom of the drainage water storage tank 50 so that the tank 50 may be readily emptied every time the supply tanks 36 are filled. A false door 114 on the back of drain closet door 106 provides additional storage space for long, slender objects.

An upper door 116 in each cabinet side 24 provides access to the electric motor water pumps 53 and plumbing therein when desired. Each door is also provided with a door knob 118 and an identical key-operated lock 120, so that all the doors may be locked or unlocked with the same key. Each water supply tank 36 is provided with a sight window 122 which extends through the cabinet back 18, viewable when the rear cover 30 is open, and concealed by a depending back flange 124 when the cover is closed down.

A bed patient bowl. 126, shown in FIG. 5, may be temporarily attached, whenever desired, by means of a U-clamp 128, shown separately in FIG. 6. This bed patient bowl 126 is preferably semi-circular in outline, with a neck-receiving recess or rest 130 formed in the straight or diametrical side wall 132, a top ledge 134 extending over the curved side wall 136 and straight side wall 132. Extending through the side curved side wall 136 adjacent its corner to the straight wall 132 and spaced above the bowl bottom 138 is a bowl drain tube 140 of sufiicient length that it may extend over a pillow 142 on a bed 144 on which a patient may be bedridden. This drain tube 14% has a bottom contour complementary to the recess 80 in the shampoo bowl 66 fixed in the cabinet 12. The bowl 126 is held in somewhat pivoted securement by the clamp 128 to the bowl 66. The clamp 128 is cushioned at 146, as by a rubber strip, on the bottom of its bight, and its legs 148 end in threaded ears 150 extending at right angles to the U of the clamp 128. A wing bolt 152 threaded upwardly through each ear 150 has a cushioned knob 154 on its end. When the bed patient bowl 126 is used, it is placed on the bed pillow 142 with its drain tube 149 extending at a slight angle upwardly to the recess 89 in the bowl 66 fixed in the cabinet 12, with the clamp 128 thereover and its wing bolts 150 are then tightened to bring their cushioned knobs 154 behind the depending flange 84 against the under surface of bowl front ledge 78. With the slight incline toward the bowl bottom 138, water will accumulate and remain in the bowl 126. To empty the bowl 126 into the cabinet fixed bowl 66 and thus to the drain tank 59, the bed patient bowl 126 is raised slightly above the pillow 142, thus making the drain tube 140 incline downwardly toward the bowl 66 and causing the accumulated water to drain therethrough.

To make the device 10 pay for its use, a suitable coin control mechanism 158 (shown diagrammatically) is provided within the cabinet, to which a coin may be fed through the coin slot 156, and is provided with a time control switch to the circuit (not shown) to the electric motor operated water pumps 53, permitting a definite period of time, possibly one hour, of use for each coin deposited therein. The coin controlled switch and circuit to the water pump motors, being conventional, are not shown or detailed herein.

In operation, water 44 is filled into the tanks 36 from any available source through the opened spouts 40, hot water being put into the tank having the immersion heater .5, and its conduit is plugged into any convenient electrical receptacle while being used or waiting to be used. The circuit is temporarily disconnected while the device is being moved, as to a chair patient or to a bedridden patient.

With a chair patient, the patient is placed with her back to the front side '76 of this device 10, and she rests her neck in the bowl recess 80. Then, when the water pumps are operated, using a coin if necessary, the beauty operator controlling the water temperature by the faucets 56 and 58, shampoos the patients hair and head by using the spray head 64 on spray hose 62, the water draining into the bowl 66 and through drain pipe 72, except when a temporary stopper is deliberately used, to the drain tank 50. Then, when the shampoo is finished, the patient removes her head and the operator dries her, getting towel and other supplies from the shelves and closet in the cabinet 12. The drain tank 50 is of a capacity at least equal to the capacity of both water tanks 36, and when the tanks 36 are refilled, the drain tank 50 should be emptied through its drain hose IE8 and drain valve 110.

With a bed patient, the bowl 126 is attached and used as described above.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A readily portable sham-poo device comprising a, cabinet mounted on a rotatable support means, an upper hot water supply tank and an upper cold water supply tank mounted in side-by-side relation in-teriorly of said cabinet rearwardly thereof, a shampoo bowl mounted interior-1y of said cabinet forwardly of said pair of water supply tanks and extending forwardly and upwardly exteriorly of said cabinet, a cover hinged on said cabinet extending rearwardly over said pair of supply tanks, 21 second cover hinged on said cabinet extending forwardly over said shampoo bowl, said covers in closed position providing a substantially flat table surface, a closed top drainage water storing tank mounted in said cabinet underneath said supply tanks and the portion of said shampoo bowl Within said cabinet, drain means connecting said shampoo bowl to said drain tank through the closed top thereof, a spray hose and spray head thereon connected to a mixing valve mounted in said shampoo bowl, electric motor. operated water pump means mounted within said cabinet, and water conduits connected through said water pump means from each said supply tank through faucet controls to said mixing valve means, said shampoo bowl having a neck-receiving recess in an end ledge in its forward upwardly extending portion exteriorly of said cabinet for conveniently supporting the head and neck of a chair occupying patient.

2.'The shampoo device of claim 1, said spray hose being extendibly and retractably connected to said mixing valve through an opening in said shampoo bowl, and a hose retraction limiting collar on said spray hose.

3. The shampoo device of claim 1, in combination with a bed patient bowl, said bed patient bowl having a neck-receiving recess in one side thereof, a drain tube extending rigidly from another side thereof, said drain tube having a bottom con-tour complementary to said neck-receiving recess in said cabinet supported shampoo bowl ledge, and an inverted U-clamp complementary to the top contour of said drain pipe, said clamp having .a threaded ear extending at approximately right angles at the end of each leg of said U-clamp, and a wing bolt threaded therethrough for securing said clamp in cooperating position over said drain pipe and under said shampoo bowl ledge to pivotally secure said drain pipe and bed patient bow-l thereto, whereby said bed patient bowl may rest on a bed in water-retaining position and may be lifted upwardly to Water discharging position to said cabinet supported shampoo bowl.

4. The shampoo device of claim 1, and a heater element mounted within the hot water tank for maintaining the water therein in heated condition.

5. The shampoo device of claim 1, each said water supply tank having a sight window therein viewable through a side of said cabinet, and a depending ledge on said cover over said tanks concealing said sight windows when in closed position.

6. The shampoo device of claim 1, and coin controlled mechanism mounted in said cabinet and controlling an electric circuit to said electric motor operated water pump means.

7. The shampoo device of claim 1, and a flexible drain tube extending from the bottom of said drain tank, and a drain tube storing closet in said cabinet below said drain tank.

8. The shampoo device of claim 1 in combination with References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,058 6/54 Wolfe 4 159 2,760,207 8/56 Glintz 4 159 2,850,742 9/58 Glintz 4-159 3,013,280 12/61 Cofiman et. a1 4-159 LEWIS J. LENNY, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL ROTHB'ERG, Examiner. 

1. A READILY PORTABLE SHAMPOO DEVICE COMPRISING A CABINET MOUNTED ON A ROTATABLE SUPPORT MEANS, AN UPPER HOT WATER SUPPLY TANK AND AN UPPER COLD WATER SUPPLY TANK MOUNTED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION INTERIORLY OF SAID CABINET REARWARDLY THEREOF, A SHAMPOO BOWL MOUNTED INTERIORLY OF SAID CABINET FORWARDLY OF SAID PAIR OF WATER SUPPLY TANKS AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTERIORLY OF SAID CABINET, A COVER HINGED ON SAID CABINET EXTENDING REARWARDLY OVER SAID PAIR OF SUPPLY TANKS, A SECOND COVER HINGED ON SAID CABINET EXTENDING FORWARDLY OVER SAID SHAMPOO BOWL, SAID COVERS IN CLOSED POSITION PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT TABLE SURFACE, A CLOSED TOP DRAINAGE WATER STORING TANK MOUNTED IN SAID CABINET UNDERNEATH SAID SUPPLY TANKS AND THE PORTION OF SAID SHAMPOO BOWL WITHIN SAID CABINET, DRAIN MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHAMPOO BOWL TO SAID DRAIN TANK THROUGH THE CLOSED TOP THEREOF, A SPRAY HOSE AND SPRAY HEAD THEREON CONNECTED TO A MIXING VALVE MOUNTED IN SAID SHAMPOO BOWL, ELECTRIC MOTOR OPERATED WATER PUMP MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CABINET, AND WATER CONDUITS CONNECTED THROUGH SAID WATER PUMP MEANS FROM EACH SAID SUPPLY TANK THROUGH FAUCET CONTROLS TO SAID MIXING VALVE MEANS, SAID SHAMPOO BOWL HAVING A NECK-RECEIVING RECESS IN AN END LEDGE IN ITS FORWARD UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION EXTERIORLY OF SAID CABINET FOR CONVENIENTLY SUPPORTING THE HEAD AND NECK OF A CHAIR OCCUPYING PATIENT. 